Outlet-box support



Sept'. 2, 1930. J. A. wEvER 1,775,058

OUTLET Box SUPPORT Filed Feb. 13. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l lm. M1261;

WITNESS: ATTORNEY Sept. 2, 1930.

WITNESS J. A. wr-:vER 1,775,058

OUTLET BOX SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 13. 1928 J/m. Waff;

INVENTOR 'ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 2, 1930 PATENT OFFICE JOHN A. WEVER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND OUTLET-BOX SUPPORT Application filed February 13, 1928.

This invention relates to means for supporting lighting fixtures and is an improvement upon the invention disclosed in Patent #1,263,177, granted to me April 6, 1918, and

like the invention disclosed in this patent,

the present invention is especially adapted for installation work in buildings already completed.

In the patent referred to, use is made of a l0 supporting bar which is positioned within the ceiling above the laths, and means are provided for inserting this bar in position, so that installation may be effected without removing any of the flooring from the room above. In the present invention, this result may be accomplished without the use of inserting means.

An object of the present invention is to providev a construction which will permit of the insertion of the supporting bar and the positioning of this bar without the use of an inserting tool, together with means which is adjustably connected with this bar and which is removably engaged with the outlet box to clamp the box in position and at the same time cause the supporting bar to bite into the keys of the ceiling plaster.

Another and important object of the invention is to provide an outlet box support 30 which may be furnished to the wireman completely assembled, with the exception of a locking plate, so that the support may be installed without the necessity of disassembling any parts of the device, such as disengaging the threaded bolt from the supporting bar,

before the bar is positioned within the ceiling. This obviates the requirement for later reengaging the threaded bolt and bar in order to complete the installation of the device.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view showing a portion of a ceiling with the invention installed ready for use.r

F lgure 2 1s a sectional viewr showing the Serial No. 254,002.

position of the parts after the bar has been inserted and before the outlet box has been arranged in position.

Figure 3 is a like view with the outlet box arranged in position and the locking plate disengaged from the box.

Figure 4: is a detail perspective view of the invention with the outlet box shown by dotted lines.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 2 with the parts removed from the ceiling. y

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the supporting bar. l

Figure 8 is a like View of the locking plate.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates the laths of a ceiling to which is applied plaster 11, the plaster keys which extend between the laths being indicated at 12. For the purpose of installing the fixture, au opening 13 is provided in the ceiling, the opening being of suliicient size to accommodate the usual ceiling outlet box 14. with the latter bearing against the portions of the under faces of two laths, an intermediate lath view on 15 being cut away. An opening through the ceiling is thus provided which is of sufficient sizeto permit of the insertion of at least a suiiicient part of the hand of a workman to properly position a supporting bar 16. This bar 16 is adapted to rest upon one of its edges so that it may bite into the keys of the plaster with a View of preventing any accidental movement after installation has been effected. In addition, theresistance to bending is increased, so that the box 14 may be more securely clamped in place without danger of bending the bar, as will presently appear.

The bar 16 is of novel construction and is provided with an opening 17 which extends transversely of its width and through which a screw or bolt 18 may be freely moved. For this purpose, the bar 16 may be constructed of two metal strips 19 which are provided with oppositely offset substantially semi-circular ortions 20, arranged to provide the opening 17. The strips 19 are connected by means oiu tongues 21 which are struck from one of the strips and which extend through openings 22 provided in the other strip, with the extremities of the tongues bent over upon the outer face of said other strip. The strips 19 are provided with longitudinally disposed registering slots 23 which extend from oppo site sides of the semi-circular portions 2O so as to provide a slot which extends entirely through the bar 16. Removably positioned within this slot is a nut 2e which is adapted to be engaged by the screw or bolt 18 previously referred to.

Mounted upon the headed end of the screw or bolt 18 is a. fixture coupling 25. rllhis coupling is preferably formed ot' cast malleable iron and is cored as at 26 for the accommodation of the screw or bolt 18. The coupling is externally threaded as at 27 for engagement with a fixture and is provided with a squared or rectangular portion 28.

The invention further includes a locking plate 29 which is shown in detail in Figure 8 of the drawings. This plate is provided with a rectangular opening 30 to receive the rectangular portion 28 of the fixture coupling, while a slot 31 extends through the plate from the opening 30 to permit of the passage oit the screw or bolt 18.

In making use of the invention, an opening 13 is first provided in the ceiling preferably of a character previously described. The device being already assembled, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the bar 16 is then inserted through the opening so that its edge rests upon the plaster keys as shown inFigure 2 of the drawings. Fhe outlet box is connected to the electric cable or cables (not shown) and is pushed upward against the laths. The locking plate 29 being positioned upon the fixture coupling so that thel plate rests upon the shoulder 33, a screw driver may be inserted within the cored portion 26 of the coupling member and the screw or bolt 18 adjusted until the locking plate 29 engages the under face of the outlet box 14. The plate 29 is provided with extensions 84e which are located near each end and which are adapted to enter openings 35 provided in the outlet box 14, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The plate 29 will thus be held against rotary movement and the bar 16 will be drawn downward into the plaster keys with the outlet box clamped tightly against the laths, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

By reference to the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, it will be seen that there are no threads to be engaged in order to install the device. Particular attention is directed to this feature of the invention in that no time is lost for this purpose by the workman during the installation of jLaw/amiss;

the device. It will further be seen that regardless of the variation in thickness of ceilings, the projection of the coupling 25 with respect to the depth of the outlet box will be the same, as the excess length of the bolt 18 projects into the space between the ceiling and floor. This is an especially important feature in that it permits the device being used for side wall bracket outlets where the depth of the bracket back is shallow, as well as for ceiling outlets on fixtures whose canopies are Very shallow. y

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of' construct-ion and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as ,properly fall within the scope of the appended claims. i

Having described the claimed is 1 1 1.111 combination with an outlet box, a supporting bar adapted to be positioned across an opening transversely of. trie ceiling laths, means adapted to extend through the outlet box for connecting a lighting fixture with the bar to support said fixture, a locking plate carried by the fixture connecting means and engaging the outlet box to clamp the parts in position, and means to hold the locking plate against independent rotation with respect to the fixture connecting means.

2. ln combination with an outlet box,`a supporting bar adapted 4to be positioned across an openingvtransversely of the ceiling laths, a lighting fixture` engaging member, a shoulder on said member, slidable locking plate carried by said member for engagement with the shoulder of thefixture engaging member and the outlet box, meanshaving one end engaged by the fixture engaging member and its opposite end threadedly engaging the bar to adjustably connect the fixture engaging member .and bar, and` means carried, by the lookingplate and engaging the outlet box to hold the plate against sliding movement. l

3. In combination with an outlet box,A a supporting bar adapted to be positioned across an opening transversely of the ceiling laths, a lightingv fixture engaging member, means having one end engaged bythe fixture engaging membery and its opposite end threadedly engaging the bar to adjustably connect the fixture engaging member and bar, a clamping plate carried bythe fixture engaging member to engage'the outlet box to clamp the parts in position, and means to prevent relative rotary 4 movement of said plate and box.

e. ln combination withan outlet box, a supporting bar adapted to be positioned transversely of the laths of a ceiling, a bolt threadedly engaging the bar and adapted to extend through an opening in said ceiling, a fixture engaging member rotatablymountinvention what is -ioo CJD

ed upon the end of the bolt, and a vertically and laterally movable notched locking plate engaging the outlet box and the fixture engaging member to prevent rotation of the latter and hold the parts in position.

5. In combination with an outlet box, a supporting bar adapted to be positioned transversely of the laths of a ceiling, a bolt threadedly engaging the bar and adapted to extend through an opening in said ceiling, a fixture engaging member rotatably mounted upon the end of the bolt, and a locking plate engaging theoutlet box and the fixture engaging member to prevent rotation of the latter and hold the parts in position, and means providing an interlocking engagenent between the locking plate and outlet 6. In combination with an outlet box, a supporting bar adapted to be positioned transversely of the laths of a ceiling, a bolt threadedly engaging the bar and adapted to extend through an opening in said ceiling, a fixture coupling rotatably mounted upon the bolt and having an exteriorly threaded portion at one end and a transversely rectangular portion at the other end, with a shoulder at the juncture of said portions, a locking plate having a rectangular opening therein to receive the rectangular portion of the coupling and prevent relative rotary movement, said plate also having a slot extending from its opening for the passage of the bolt, and means providing an interlocking engagement between the outlet box and the plate, whereby when the bolt is threadedly adjusted, the parts will be clamped in position.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

, JOHN A. WEVER. 

